CHICK DATA
The Wakefield Peregrine Chicks
From 2015 to 2023, the adults have successfully fledged 31 young peregrines and a fostered juvenile that was relocated from a nest site in Hull.
Since 2016, the juvenile peregrines have been fitted with an orange-coloured Darvic ring on their left leg and a metal BTO ring on the right leg. The Darvic ring carries two or three unique numbers/letters to allow identification later in life.
The Darvic rings are readable through binoculars or telescopes, and we hope this will enable us to get feedback on the subsequent movement of the juveniles after fledging. When the rings are fitted, the juveniles are also checked to ensure they are in good condition, weighed and measured. This also helps to determine the sex of the juveniles.
Darvic Ring Data
Recovery and Sighting Data
2023
The new female (female 2) fledged two chicks with our resident male, in his ninth breeding season.
- ZAA – Orange – Female
- ZCA – Orange – Female
March, 2024: It has been reported that ZAA is seen frequently at St. Aidan’s RSPB reserve. ZAA was first seen over the reserve in August, 2023.
2022
Four chicks were fledged by our resident pair in their eighth season.
- VJZ – Orange – Male
- VJX – Orange – Female
- VHX – Orange – Male
- VFX – Orange – Female
VHX was seen on buildings at Calder Wetlands in 2023 and has been seen at Trinity Church, Ossett regularly since then.
VFX was seen a number of times on cliffs above Marine Drive, Scarborough, where peregrines nest regularly, in October, 2022.
2021
Four eggs were laid and four chicks were fledged.
- T3H – Orange – Male
- TVH – Orange – Female
- T4H – Orange – Male
- T7H – Orange – Female
T3H died soon after fledging, after being “rescued” and released several miles from the cathedral.
2020
Four eggs were laid and four chicks were fledged but covid restrictions meant that the cathedral was closed, so the chicks were not ringed. This means that we have no way of gathering information about the fate of the chicks from this brood.
TVH was seen at a nest-site on Lincoln cathedral in March, 2023 and was resighted in December, 2023 in Cambridge, where she is now (2024) making a nesting attempt on the chapel of St. John’s College, Cambridge, having paired with the resident male.
2019
Four eggs were laid and four chicks were fledged.
- T3F – Orange – Male
- T4F – Orange – Male
- T6F – Orange – Female
- T7F – Orange – Male
T4F was seen near Croxdale, three miles south of Durham and 72 miles from Wakefield Cathedral.
2018
Three eggs were laid and three chicks were fledged. However, a fourth chick (TAA) was fostered by the pair.
- PAB – Orange – Male
- PDA – Orange – Male
- PFA – Orange – Female
- TAA – Orange
PAB was seen on Trinity Church, Ossett, apparently preparing to breed in March but it was found dead in Darley Forest, Matlock in late March, 2022. The bird had suffered a broken wing.
PDA was found dead on George Street, Wakefield with a dead moorhen. The bird must have been hit by a car.
TAA fell from a nest at Hull and was placed on the tower of the cathedral to be fostered by the Wakefield birds. TAA was seen again in May 2019 when it was rescued from an attic, which it had entered through a broken window, in Leeds city centre. The bird was uninjured and was released.
2017
Three chicks were fledged.
- PAA – Orange – Female
- PBA – Orange – Male
- PCA – Orange – Female
PAA was photographed at Swillington Ings in July, 2017 and it was seen at RSPB Old Moor numerous times during the winters of 2017-18 and 2018-19.
PCA died in July, 2017 after being found in Wakefield with a badly damaged wing. It is believed that it had flown into a building.
2016
Four chicks were fledged.
- 3Z – Orange – Male
- 4Z – Orange – Male
- 5Z – Orange – Female
- 6Z – Orange – Male
The remains of 4Z were found on top of The Ridings on 17th June, 2016. It is believed that 4Z had been in collision with a door.
The remains of 3Z were found beneath overhead wires on a farm near Ripon, 56 km from the cathedral, on 22nd September, 2016. A dead golden plover was found with 3Z.